250 marriages to be solemnised at Bhopal Muslim convention

BHOPAL - As many as 250 nikahs - Muslim marriages - will be solemnised in Madhya Pradesh Sunday at the ongoing ‘Aalami Tabligi Ijtima’ (World Preachers Congregation), an official said Saturday.

The 63rd congregation which unfolded Saturday will conclude Monday with mass “dua” (prayer).

A tented city has come up at Itkheri in Isalam Nagar near Bhopal as people have started pouring in to the Ijtima site from all over the country. The trickle, which started after the Friday prayers, has picked up slowly and gradually.

More than five lakh people from all over the world participate in the Ijtima every year. According to the management, the number is expected to cross seven lakh this year.

Around a thousand foreigners have reached the site from Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Egypt, South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, Britain and China.

According to Atique-ul-Islam spokesperson of Ijtima: “On Dec 26, about 250 nikahs will get solemnised during the Ijtima.”

To boost security in and around the venue, CCTV cameras have been installed at strategic points and hundreds of policemen have been deployed. The personnel of the traffic police have also been stationed to streamline the vehicular traffic. Special buses are also plying between Bhopal and Itkheri village to take citizens to the venue.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Friday went to the venue to take stock of the arrangements.